# Senthil (செந்தில்)
**Senthil** (செந்தில்; born 1951) is a Tamil film comedy actor whose screen persona, built on a rustic body language and deadpan dialogue delivery, made him one of the most recognized comic performers of [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) from the early 1980s through the 1990s[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil.html). His given name at birth was Munusamy[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951, Ilanchembur village near Mudukulathur, Ramanathapuram district; birth name Munusamy[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil.html) |
| Signature partnership | Comedy duo with Goundamani; the pair appeared together in more than 100 films[2](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/actor-bhaghyaraj-about-comedy-actor-senthil-and-his-journey-10045765) |
| Career volume | More than 1,300 films across Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, English, and Hindi; up to 80 of his films released in a single year[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html) |
| Breakthrough roles | Thooral Ninnu Pochu (1982), Malaiyoor Mambattiyan (1983), Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal (1984)[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html) |
| Famous scene | The "banana" comedy in Karagattakaran (1989), written by A. Veerappan, remains widely quoted and memed[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html) • [4](https://www.suryanfm.in/happy-birthday-senthil-2026/) |
| Politics | AIADMK member from 1988; later secretary of T.T.V. Dhinakaran's AMMK; joined the BJP in 2021[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html) |
## Early life
Senthil was born the third of six children to Ramamoorthy and Thirukammal, in Ilanchembur, a village near Mudukulathur in Ramanathapuram district[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil.html). At age 13, after his father scolded him, he left for Chennai alone[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). He found work in an oil market and then as a supplier in a private wine shop before joining a drama troupe[5](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/throw-back-stories/here-is-the-unknown-details-about-comedy-actor-senthil-126385.html).
In his own telling, acting began by accident: friends left him as collateral at a liquor shop, he worked there, and a visiting drama company befriended him, leading to stage roles as villain and hero[6](https://cinereporters.com/behind-the-story-of-senthil-come-in-tamil-cinema). On stage he met [Goundamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/goundamani), and the two acted together in many plays; Senthil credits stage drama with teaching him comic timing[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html).
## Film career
With a production manager's help, Senthil made his screen debut in the Malayalam film *Itti Karai Pakki*, starring [Prem Nazir](https://www.edgepedia.org/prem-nazir)[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). In Tamil he acted in *Pasam*, *Poi Satchi*, and *Indru Poi Naalai Vaa* in sequence, before *Thooral Ninnu Pochu* (1982), *Malaiyoor Mambattiyan* (1983), and *Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal* (1984) brought him wide recognition[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html).
**The Goundamani–Senthil duo.** The pairing with Goundamani became the defining comedy partnership of 1980s and 1990s Tamil cinema, and the two appeared together in more than 100 films[2](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/actor-bhaghyaraj-about-comedy-actor-senthil-and-his-journey-10045765). Their first joint success came with *Udaya Geetham* (1985)[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). The comedy writer A. Veerappan, who knew both actors' body language, wrote their comic sequences, including the banana scene in *[Karagattakaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/karagattakaran)*, which was the 100th film the two made together[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). That scene remains a widely shared reference in Tamil internet culture[4](https://www.suryanfm.in/happy-birthday-senthil-2026/).
From 1985 onward he acted in large numbers of films every year; by his own account he once acted in 45 films at the same time, and in one year 80 of his films were released[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). He has acted in more than 1,300 films, and besides Tamil he has appeared in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, English, and Hindi films[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). His favorite role, he says, is the ghost he played in Ramanarayanan's *Saathan Sollai Thattaadhe*[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html).
A fall during a shoot in [Kodaikanal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kodaikanal) injured his spine and kept him off films for several years; he returned after a six-year gap with *Thaanaa Serndha Koottam*[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). He later entered television with the serial *Raasathi* and, for the first time in his career, played a lead role in a film directed by Suresh Sangaiyah[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). Recent credits include *[Lal Salaam](https://www.edgepedia.org/lal-salaam-2024-film)* (2024) and *Kick* (2023), in which he appeared with Santhanam for the first time[7](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil/filmography.html) • [8](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/comedy-actor-senthil-sharing-screen-space-with-santhanam-for-very-first-time-casio-in-kick-73577/amp).
## Politics
After M.G. Ramachandran's death, Senthil spoke in support of the AIADMK's "Seval" (rooster) symbol in 1989 and remained in politics out of admiration for M.G.R.[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). He was in the AIADMK from 1988 and served as a star speaker while Jayalalithaa led the party[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). He later became secretary of T.T.V. Dhinakaran's AMMK organization, from which he was removed in December 2020[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). He then joined the BJP in the presence of its national general secretary C.T. Ravi and [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) president [L. Murugan](https://www.edgepedia.org/l-murugan), who gave him a party membership card[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html).
## Family
Senthil's wife is Kalaiselvi; he has said she cared for him like a child during a recent medical treatment and that she has never visited any of his film shoots[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). Their elder son Manikandan is a doctor, and their second son Hemachandra Prabhu is a film director; both are married, and the family lives as a joint household[3](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html). His son Manikanda Prabhu has said he acted in only one film and then became a dentist, offering free treatment to many patients[9](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/legendary-comedian-senthils-son-manikanda-prabhu-shares-his-family-secret-142769).
When Senthil turned 75, a Bheemaratha Shanthi ceremony was held for him at the Amirthakadeswarar temple, with family members present[10](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/senthil-turned-75-and-a-bheemaratha-shanthi-ceremony-was-held-174643.html).
## References
1. [செந்தில் (Senthil): திரைப்படங்கள், வயது, பயோடேட்டா – Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil.html)
2. [நம்பியாருக்கு நான் அசிஸ்டன்ட்டா? தினமும் ஷூட்டிங்கில் அழுத நடிகர் செந்தில்: பாக்யராஜ் சொன்ன உண்மை! – Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/actor-bhaghyaraj-about-comedy-actor-senthil-and-his-journey-10045765)
3. [நடிகர் செந்தில் பிறந்த நாள்: வாழையடி வாழையாகத் தழைத்த நகைச்சுவை! – Dinamani](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2022/Mar/23/tamil-comedian-senthil-3813182.html)
4. [நகைச்சுவை ஜாம்பவான் செந்தில் – Suryan FM](https://www.suryanfm.in/happy-birthday-senthil-2026/)
5. [Senthil – ரஜினியே பண்ணிடுவார்.. நீ என்ன பண்ணுவ.. – Tamil Filmibeat](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/throw-back-stories/here-is-the-unknown-details-about-comedy-actor-senthil-126385.html)
6. [சரக்கு கடையில் என்னை அடகு வச்சிட்டு போயிட்டாங்க! – Cine Reporters](https://cinereporters.com/behind-the-story-of-senthil-come-in-tamil-cinema)
7. [செந்தில் நடித்த படங்கள் – Filmibeat Tamil filmography](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/senthil/filmography.html)
8. [Comedy Actor Senthil Sharing Screen Space With Santhanam For Very First Time In Kick – ABP Nadu](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/comedy-actor-senthil-sharing-screen-space-with-santhanam-for-very-first-time-casio-in-kick-73577/amp)
9. [Legendary comedian Senthil's son Manikanda Prabhu shares his family secret – ABP Nadu](https://tamil.abplive.com/entertainment/legendary-comedian-senthils-son-manikanda-prabhu-shares-his-family-secret-142769)
10. [காமெடி ஜாம்பவான் செந்திலுக்கு 75 வயது நிறைவு – Tamil Filmibeat](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/senthil-turned-75-and-a-bheemaratha-shanthi-ceremony-was-held-174643.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames R to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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